Seems like the art-graffiti showdown is upon us as Pest Control, the Banksy-backed authentication body set up by Steve Lazarides of Lazarides gallery is attempting to get Vermin’s street art Banksy’s removed from the Lyon & Turnbull Contemporary artauction, set to start viewings on Thursday this week in Marlebone.

“The sale will clearly be a test case but only, of course, if it actually takes place. As the Daily Telegraph went to press, news was filtering through that Pest Control was seeking to have all the works withdrawn from the sale.”

I’m not surprised they’re trying to get Vermin thrown out. Iif they go ahead it will signify tacit approval that the 2 authentication organisations should generally accepted as 2 sides of the same coin. I believe a body should exist to authenticate Banksy street art but it should at least be condoned by the artist himself, which it clearly isnt in this case.

As if the Banksy issue wasnt enough, there is a debate going on as to whether Michael Wojas should be in any position to sell the works of the famous artists from the Colony Room Club in Soho since the artists gave the work to the club and not him:

“It is turning very nasty indeed. The members are now demanding that either Wojas proves his title to the works on sale, which is to take place this Saturday and all of which are featured in a lavish catalogue prepared by Lyon and Turnbull, or withdraw them immediately. If he fails to do this, they say, legal action will be taken to have the disputed works removed from the sale.”